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Main points

  • Encouraged isolationism in the USA
  • Encouraged growth of Nazi party in Germany
  • Resulted in cuts in defense budgets in Britain and France
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The Great Depression and World War II


Fallout from the collapse of the United States economy following the 1929 Stock Market Crash reverberated throughout the world. European countries, especially Germany, were hit hard by the Great Depression, which led to high rates of unemployment, poverty, civil unrest, and an overall feeling of despair.

The Great Depression resulted in a 25% unemployment rate in the United States and a 33% unemployment rate in Germany. The lure of a steady job and adequate food led many people to support dictatorships like those established by Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and other totalitarians.

The Great Depression hit Germany second only to the United States. Severe unemployment prompted the Nazi Party, which had been losing favor, to experience a surge in membership. This more than anything contributed to the rise of Hitler in Germany, and therefore World War II in Europe. After the end of World War I many American industries and banks invested their money in rebuilding Europe. This happened in many European countries, but especially in Germany. After the 1929 crash, many American investors fearing that they would lose their money, or having lost all their capital, stopped investing as heavily in Europe.

Source: wikipedia.com


What was The Great Depression?




Why a Great Depression?

POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS ON YOUR DISCUSSION FORUM. PLEASE RESPOND TO ANOTHER POSTING WITH QUESTIONS, CLARIFICATIONS, ETC.
  1. Watch the short film here or read the text HippoCampus (your choice). Is any of our study in Globalization or Inequalities of Development pertinent here?
  2. What does the song Brother can you spare a dime tell us about the social impact of the Depression in the US?
    B
    Brother, Can You Spare a Dime: lyrics by Yip Harburg, music by Jay Gorney (1931)
    They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,
    When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.
    They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,
    Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?

    Once I built a railroad, I made it run, I made it run against time.
    Once I built a railroad; now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
    Once I built a tower, way up to the sun, brick, and mortar, and lime;
    Once I built a tower, now it's done. Brother, can you spare a dime?

    Once in khaki suits, gee we looked swell, Full of that Yankee Doodly Dum,
    Half a million boots went slogging through Hell, And I was the kid with the drum!

    Oh Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
    Say why don't you remember, I was your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

    Say, don't you remember, they called me Al; it was Al all the time.
    Say, don't you remember, I'm your pal? Buddy, can you spare a dime?

What did the Depression look like in Germany?



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